Construction Jobs in New Zealand
Recruitment Agencies we recommend
Tradestaff
Tradestaff is New Zealand's leading supplier of temporary and permanent workers to the trade sector. With 12 locations throughout the country Tradestaff has a broad range of work available now – from unskilled to highly specialised.
About the Construction Industry
The construction sector in New Zealand employs around 170,000 people across a range of jobs. Construction and maintenance of infrastructure and buildings is an incredibly important part of the economy and influences productivity in the majority of other sectors. The quality of this work also impacts the welfare of New Zealanders in general, from creating safe housing to safe built environments.
The latest reports on the construction industry in New Zealand show increasing growth across all sectors and sub-sectors. They also stress that the industry is an integral part of a highly complex ecosystem which includes regulators, planning authorities, materials manufacturers and suppliers, property developers and a range of professional service providers.
Demand for Skills in the Construction Sector
Construction is a labour intensive activity and many firms report difficulty in recruiting skilled and experienced labour.
The construction sector covers a wide range of jobs and skill-sets, from tradespeople and labourers through to project managers and engineers. The industry is experiencing an unprecedented increase in workload following earthquake damage in some major centres like Canterbury and Wellington. There is also a massive demand for housing mostly centred in Auckland but generally nation-wide.
The biggest concentration of construction workers and jobs is in Auckland, followed by Canterbury, then Wellington, then the Waikato.
Sub-Sectors of the Construction Sector
Building Construction
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Residential Building
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Non-residential Building
Heavy and Civil Engineering
Construction Services
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Land Development and Site Preparation
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Building Structure Services
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Building Installation Services
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Building Completion Services
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Other Construction Services
Popular Jobs in Construction
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Construction Director – Civil Engineering
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Regional Finance Director – PFI/PPP Contracts
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Project Manager – Construction Contractor
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Senior Management Accountant – Special Projects Construction
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Senior Architectural Designer – Civil Engineering
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Group Financial Analyst – National Construction Contractor
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Engineering Manager – Offshore Renewable Developer
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Project Accountant – Leading Construction Contractor
For Visa Applicants: Roles On the Skills Shortages List
If you are offered a job which appears on the list below, and you have the qualifications and experience to match, getting a work visa will be easier. This is because the government has identified that employers need to recruit people from overseas to help meet demand for your skills.
Because construction tends to be a boom-and-bust industry heavily influenced by business cycles and variables like the weather, the industry often experiences skill shortages and a difficulty in upskilling employees.
In boom times skill gaps tend to be met through immigration. Immigrants skilled in construction may therefore be well considered for visa approval.
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Building Inspector
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Building Surveyor
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Construction Project Manager
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Surveying or Spatial Science Technician
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Surveying Technician
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Project Builder
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Quantity Surveyor
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Surveyor
Industry Snapshots
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170,000 - People employed in the construction sector
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5th - Largest sector in NZ
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7.6% - of the workforce employed in construction jobs
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30% - Increase in employment numbers between 2002-2012
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44,000 - Number of people employed in building of residential and non-residential buildings
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$30 billion + - Construction sector’s average annual contribution to the economy
Featured Jobs
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Civil Labourer
City:
Christchurch
Job Type:
Permanent / Full Time
Date:
16/02/2026
Experienced Civil Labourers required. WTR / Class 2 / Class 4 hugely beneficial.
The ideal applicants will have previous experience on civil, drainage and earthworks sites.
If you have your WTR and some experience operating, or a Class 2 /4 licences and have had experience driving tippers and have worked on civil and drainage sites previously, we want to hear from you!
With a number of projects due to start in the next couple of weeks, we are looking for skilled and competent All -Rounders to
Dump Truck Driver
City:
Christchurch
Job Type:
Permanent / Full Time
Date:
16/02/2026
We are looking for a driver / operator with experience driving a dump truck / moxy and operating on earthworks sites.
Ideally you will be an experienced all-rounder and hold your WTR, Class 4 and have had experience operating a range of plant, with some labouring when required. If you enjoy some variety in your work then apply today!
What's in it for you?
Competitive Pay
Weekly Pay
Monday to Friday (happy to work Saturdays when required)
Ongoing work throughout the warmer months
PPE Provi
Construction Manager/2IC - Taupo - Up to $180k
City:
Auckland
Job Type:
Permanent / Full Time
Date:
16/02/2026
We are partnered with an excellent budding T3 construction company in Taupo, who are seeking a Construction Manager/2IC to come in and deliver projects on time and on budget.
About the role:
The site team currently consists of three personnel - an Estimator, a Commercial Manager, and an Administrator - so you’ll be joining a close-knit, friendly team of professionals working across MOE projects, private builds (high end, complex residential projects), as well as a mixture of fitout and new bui
Labourer
City:
Christchurch
Job Type:
Casual / Temporary / Contract
Date:
16/02/2026
Extrastaff are looking for labourers to join our ever growing team. We have a variety of ongoing and day to day labouring positions in and around Christchurch.
Some of these roles include:
Construction site labouring
Moving materials
Site clean up
Car grooming
Scaffold labouring
We are after people who:
Have a good work ethic
Are not afraid of hard work
Are physically fit
Have sound health and safety knowledge
Have a positive attitude
Are a team player with a great attitude and able